The subsequent classes passed for Yui without any notable incidents.
As the school day ended, Haruka approached her again. "Um, Katsuya-san, would you like to walk home together?"
"Oh, sorry, I've got something to do…" Yui replied hesitantly.
"I see… then I'll head out first. Bye!"
"Uh, goodbye," Yui said, watching Haruka leave.
While packing her things, Yui's mind involuntarily slipped into the deep analytical mode she often used to assess enemies.
Amane-san said goodbye and left with her friend. Honestly, Yui was surprised to make a friend on her first day, but based on her initial observations, Haruka seems shy. Yet she took the initiative to approach Yui, which raises some suspicion. Maybe it's just her overly cautious nature, but her past life has ingrained this instinct in Yui, and she can't change it easily.
Moreover, Haruka has other friends, but I noticed they barely interacted with each other all day—not even during lunch.
"Why is that?" Yui wondered to herself.
Then a possibility struck her: Haruka might have been instructed by someone to approach her. Combined with the uneasy feeling of being watched throughout the day, her suspicion grew stronger. Yet she couldn't fathom why she'd be targeted on her first day when she hadn't done anything yet.
Lost in thought, Yui walked quietly down the deserted hallway when she heard voices coming from a turn ahead. Instinctively, she ducked into the nearest classroom to conceal herself.
"Why won't you understand…" a sharp female voice rang out.
"You're the one who doesn't get it!" another female voice retorted immediately.
"Shinoma-san's voice?" Yui recognized it after a moment's pause.
"If you join the tea ceremony club, I can help you," the first voice continued, softer but insistent.
"Do you think I need your help, President? You've gotten too arrogant! Just because your family has some money? Have you forgotten who gave your family those business opportunities?" Kaguya's tone was laced with irritation.
"I know! That's why I want to help you," the other girl, presumably the student council president, replied.
"Stop with the nonsense. I could end this easily, but I keep it going because I enjoy it," Kaguya snapped, her voice growing colder. "Focus on finishing your role as President and stop meddling where you don't belong!"
"I hope you understand what I'm saying," Kaguya added before walking away.
"Could she be the one directing Amane-san? Or maybe someone close to her…?" Yui pondered.
"As the daughter of the school's biggest shareholder, she has the influence to pull that off. And if you pay attention, the way people around her act—cautious and reserved—stands out. She's always surrounded by friends, yet there's a clear distance. No warm gestures, and when they talk, others lower their voices and avoid meeting her eyes."
That was everything Yui had observed that day.
After the two girls left, Yui emerged from her hiding spot and turned to head in the opposite direction. Though she'd come here to start a new life, the Captain had also assigned her a few minor tasks before she left.
"The relationship between Shinoma-san and the student council president doesn't seem good. From their conversation, it's clear the president's family relied on Shinoma-san's family to overcome some hardship… Now, the president shows excessive concern for Shinoma-san, likely as a way to repay a debt, but it's not the usual kind of care. On the other hand, Shinoma-san clearly doesn't want it."
From just that brief exchange, Yui had pieced together a lot, answering some of her own questions.
"Looks like I won't get to the Captain's task today."
During last night's call—beyond checking in on her—the Captain had asked her to find something. She found it odd but didn't press him, knowing he loved these cryptic games.
"Still, I should give it another try."
Yui resumed her mission, moving cautiously down the empty hallway, her footsteps silent. After a while, she reached the room she was targeting.
"No cameras. Door locked."
Yui pulled out a few tools from her bag and, with a few deft movements, unlocked the door effortlessly.
"This is the practice room, isn't it?"
She headed to a cabinet in the corner, opened it, and began searching. After a moment, she retrieved a locked box. Checking the surroundings and finding nothing else, she quickly tidied up and left. As she passed her classroom, she noticed someone still inside.
"Shinoma-san? Why is she still here?"
After a moment's hesitation, Yui decided not to approach and quickened her pace toward home. But just as she moved, Kaguya stood up, turned, and spotted her.
Caught off guard, Yui spoke up. "Oh… hi."
Kaguya didn't respond. She packed her things and walked past Yui, pausing only to say, "I hate your eyes! They look like those of a dead person!" Then she left.
"Really, like a dead person?" Yui muttered, the words echoing in her mind as she headed home.
Near her house, she spotted a familiar figure—it looked like Kaguya. Kaguya was sitting in her car, her gaze fixed on Yui's place, or more precisely, Kotsuki's bakery. After a moment, the car drove off.
Yui stood silently, watching from a distance. She recalled Kotsuki mentioning their strained relationship earlier, and this move from Kaguya seemed like an attempt to seek out her sister.
"What would she think if she knew I'm living here…?" Yui's curiosity piqued, imagining various reactions Kaguya might have.
"Could I do something about it…?" The thought of helping mend their relationship crossed her mind—after all, Kotsuki was her benefactor—but it flickered briefly before Yui shook her head to dismiss it.
"No, I don't know enough about their family to get involved."
Back home, Yui unpacked, did some chores, and cooked dinner. But as the usual mealtime passed, Kotsuki still hadn't returned.
"Oh… I think Kotsuki-san mentioned she doesn't stay here often. Maybe she won't be back tonight?"
Checking her phone, Yui realized Kotsuki had sent a message earlier, which she'd missed. Left with no choice, she ate alone, cleaned up, and showered. Afterward, she turned her attention to the box. The Captain had told her to retrieve it but hadn't specified what to do next.
Yui shook it—it was light, with a faint clinking sound inside, no odd smells, and no special markings. She deduced it might be an old recorder or a device holding audio and visual data.
"Evidence of a crime, maybe…?" she speculated.
"What is the Captain planning?" Yui felt a headache coming on from his love of these guessing games.
After some hesitation, she decided to call him for clarification, but after several unanswered attempts, she gave up.
"Or… should I open it…?" Yui wondered, though her hands were already moving.
Opening it confirmed her suspicion. "An old recorder, and… a photo?" She picked up the picture, startled by who she saw.
"Is that… Shinoma-san?" Yui recognized her from the childhood photos Kotsuki had shown her, which included Kaguya too. "There's a woman beside her—probably her mother, given the resemblance. Shinoma-san looks so young here, and this must be before the tragedy."
"So, this recorder…" Yui had a hunch about its contents but decided to play it. Whatever was inside, she felt it might significantly impact her future life.